Wind-turbine maker Vestas Americas once planned to spend about $250 million to build a massive U.S. headquarters in Portland, likely in South Waterfront.

But the recession, slower orders, construction costs and office availability in the city are making Portland's largest clean-energy company consider relocating to an existing structure or one being built, Vestas Americas president Martha Wyrsch said Tuesday.

Wyrsch, who began leading Vestas U.S. and Canadian operations June 15, said during an interview that the company hadn't entirely ruled out new construction. Either way, she said, Vestas is not about to leave Portland.

"We're very much committed to Portland and excited about being here," said Wyrsch, speaking in offices at 1881 S.W. Naito Parkway, one of five Portland buildings occupied by Vestas.

Developers, brokers and city officials are watching Vestas closely as one of the city's biggest potential real estate clients, a fast-growing firm whose business could spell the difference between a hole in the ground and a completed Class A tower. Even if Vestas abandons plans for new construction, its decision on consolidating in one building or existing project would have enormous influence in a slow commercial real estate market.

Vestas moved its U.S. headquarters to Portland in 2002 from Palm Springs, Calif. It has mushroomed to about 700 employees in Portland, with a total of about 2,500 in the United States and Canada.

The company initially planned to break ground by now on a 400,000-square-foot headquarters, expandable to 600,000 square feet. But Roby Roberts, Vestas Americas senior vice president of external relations, said Tuesday the project might be about half that. The company, which had hired Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects of Portland, has suspended work by the design firm, he said.

"We put the whole construction option on hold for the time being," Roberts said. "We're still having some conversations."

Vestas remains busy building wind farms ordered by customers last year, Wyrsch said. But orders this year and for early 2010 have dipped as energy use slows in Oregon and across the United States.

Customers are ordering, however, for projects starting anywhere from late 2010 through 2012, she said. That's partly because customers must pass certain project milestones to be qualify for federal stimulus money.

Vestas continues building factories. It has completed a turbine-blade plant in Colorado. Three more manufacturing plants will be completed by the end of next year. Together, those plants will employ between 2,000 and 2,500 people.

Portland and Oregon state officials had offered as much as $31.5 million in direct incentives for the Vestas headquarters project. Portland Mayor Sam Adams said Tuesday Vestas could still qualify for incentives depending on the size and type of project.

"As plans get firmer, we will help them in any way we can," Adams said. "I keep in close touch with them."

Existing space can be 10 to 15 percent cheaper than new construction, Portland developers say.

One problem is that Portland, while having plenty of commercial office space on the market, has few buildings large enough to house Vestas. Candidates might be the Park Avenue West building, the stalled structure near Nordstrom; or First & Main, by the Hawthorne Bridge.

In addition, Jim Winkler, of Winkler Development Corp., has a hole in the ground at what is planned as One Waterfront Place, on Naito Parkway by the Broadway Bridge.

"It's scheduled for completion as soon as we have signed a tenant big enough to get it financed," Winkler said.

"We have spoken with Vestas, yes," Winkler said. "We would be delighted to have a deal with them, but we're not there yet."
richread@aol.com